SIGNING: Bronte's Dakota Rawls signs letter of intent to play basketball for ASU

Patrick Dove/Standard-Times Bronte High School's Dakota Rawls goes up for a shot during the Class 1A Division II state semifinal game against Roxton at the Frank Erwin Center last month in Austin. On Wednesday, Rawls signed to play at Angelo State University.

Patrick Dove

BRONTE — Just over a month ago, Dakota Rawls was leading his Bronte High School basketball team to the Class 1A, Division II state championship game at the Frank Erwin Center, for the second consecutive season.

Wednesday, he signed an official letter-of-intent to play for Angelo State University, fulfilling a dream he has had since he was young.

"I've been watching them my entire life, as I was growing up," Rawls said. His brother Logan has been a student assistant at ASU, "and he has always said good things (about the program) and that it was a good place to play. I am making a dream a reality."

The 6-foot-5 guard followed up a junior season in which he helped the Longhorns go on a run to the state championship game, with an even better senior year. He capped off his high school career by being named the Texas Class 1A Player of the Year for the second straight season.

This season he averaged 20.5 points and 9.5 rebounds in leading the Longhorns back to the Class 1A title game, even with the giant bull's-eye of being the preseason No. 1-ranked team.

He excelled not just on the court but on the football field, on the golf course and on the track. Now, he will have the chance to focus on just basketball at ASU.

"He has been such a multisport athlete at Bronte, he will finally get to settle down and focus on one," his high school coach and father, Rocky Rawls, said.

ASU head coach Fred Rike said in a news release that getting the chance to play basketball full time gives him a huge opportunity to improve.

"In high school he played football, so that took some of his time out of the gym, but now he has 12 months out of the year to play basketball," Rike said. "He has a very high ceiling for improvement and he has a great upside. He is a talented guy, and I think he can play multiple positions for us. We are excited about him."

Dakota Rawls said that the proximity of ASU helped in the decision-making process as his family and friends will be able to watch him play. He said he never thought seriously about playing collegiately until last year, when schools started to contact him.

Rocky Rawls said his son showed signs during last year's playoffs that he could play in college. Then, "We went to some team camps last summer — one at A&M — and he really excelled at that, against bigger competition. I really thought then that he had the opportunity."

Rike called Rawls "one of the better high school players from our area in a long time."

"Dakota can do a lot of things," Rike said. "He can shoot the basketball and he is very athletic — I think he had around 60 dunks this year. I think he is going to be a good player in the Lone Star Conference. This is a good start for us with a recruiting class that is going to be big."

After dominating 1A competition for four years, Dakota Rawls knows he will have to adapt to Division II basketball.

"I think there is a big difference, and I will have to adapt pretty quickly to get started there but I think I should be fine," he said. "They have a good staff. They are tough and I am going to have to work hard, but that is pretty much like (playing for) my dad. It will be different than what I'm used to, but it will be good for me."

Rocky Rawls is excited about having the opportunity to see his son play at the nearby Junell Center.

"It gives us an opportunity to watch him, and gives him a chance to grow as a basketball player and a student-athlete," Rocky Rawls said. "Logan has told him lots of things to get him ready. As a mom and dad, we are real happy that he is playing for Coach Rike. He is a good

Christian man, and we know he is going to be taken care of."

The proud father had the chance to play collegiately at Southwestern University in Georgetown, and is pleased his son will get his shot.

"This means a whole lot," Rocky Rawls said. "I was fortunate enough when I was his age to get the chance to play college basketball and I am happy that he will get to experience that."